Page 19 of Wingwoman
I snorted, shook my head, and turned away.
I’d gotten the impression that Josh didn’t want the spotlight. That he enjoyed privacy and he resisted going out in public to avoid situations like this. But right now he seemed to be delighting in it.
A redheaded girl elbowed me aside, craning her neck to get a view so I quickly stepped out of the way, not wanting any part of this scene in front of me.
From behind the bar, Nina caught my gaze and rolled her eyes, tossing the rag against the bar and wiping the wood grains.
“Is it always like this?” I asked her over the loud crowd that kept pushing me further and further to the outskirts of the circle.
“Always. He usually gets one drink in before it becomes a free-for-all. Honestly, it’s common knowledge in these parts that this is his watering hole. I think some of these broads come here simply in the hopes of spotting him.”
I glanced to my left, now just able to make out his face and cowboy hat over the crowd of women. There was a pang of regret deep in my gut and a part of me, a part larger than I cared to admit, longed for him to notice me. To break through the crowd and come check on me. If I was truly his muse, wouldn’t he do that?
But he didn’t. He didn’t even glance my way.
Nina snorted beside me. “You’d think they wouldn’t want anything to do with him since his music is all about how he breaks women’s hearts.” She shook her head and tossed the rag into the sink behind her.
I raised a brow. “That so?”
“Oh yeah. Wait… you didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never actually listened to his music.”
It was her turn to raise her brows at that admission. “But… you knew he was famous, right?”
“Well, we’re not actually together. This is business.”
She paused, then quietly added, “It didn’t look like business.”
My stomach turned. She was right. In a matter of hours from our meeting at my apartment, he had flipped our business relationship on its head.
He’d managed to make me question my practices and my way of life and doing business. I swallowed and gave into that awful, sick feeling that rose from deep in my belly up into my throat.
Nodding, I turned back to her. “You know what? You’re right. Thank you, Nina. When he dislodges these women from up his ass, can you tell him my answer is no and that I will return his check to him?”
The corners of her mouth tipped to a small smile. “I’ll tell him. It’s too bad though. I like you. You’d be good for a guy like Josh. You wouldn’t take his shit, I can tell.”
Josh’s words from earlier rang in my ears.I need a muse who will call me on my bullshit.
I didn’t answer. Ihadno answer. So instead, I gave her a little wave and backed out of the bar toward the door, pulling my cell phone out of my purse and opening my rideshare app for a car.
Four minutes away. That felt like an eternity. Would he notice I was gone within four minutes?
I hoped not. But even as the thought entered my mind, Josh came barreling out of the bar, calling my name. “Hope! What the fuck, where are you going?”
I remained calm. To the naked eye, no one would be able to tell I was fuming mad. Embarrassed—no,humiliated. My breathing was steady, my clutch on my purse gentle.Calm. Stay calm.
“I’m leaving,” I answered.
“Why? What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I’m just—”
“Leaving, yeah I heard you.” He paused, staring at me with those cerulean eyes that never once strayed from mine. Like he was challenging me. “Are you mad at me?”
“Nope, not mad.”
He paused, looking confused. “You’re not mad, but you’re leaving.”
